SINGAPORE - Singapore will deploy another C-130 at noon on Monday to help with the search and locate mission for missing Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501.
One aircraft took off from Paya Lebar Airbase at 6.30am on Monday together with about 12 volunteer spotters from the RSAF.
It is understood the aircraft is searching a square area of 40 nautical miles by 40 nautical miles.
The aircraft will take roughly three hours to complete that area and may search the area a second time.
On Sunday, Singapore sent a C-130 plane to the search area after Indonesia accepted its offer of assistance. The aircraft, which returned to Singapore after the search was called off at nightfall, was one of the two planes deployed on Monday.
The C130 is used for search mission because it can last a long time on a full fuel tank, up to 10 hours. It can also fly to a reasonably low altitude which helps the spotters, who take turns looking out the aircraft.
Once they spot something, they pull the string to alert the others.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in a Facebook post on Monday wrote that another LST, or vessel, will sail off on Monday evening to join the search.
"Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu called me last night to thank Singapore and the SAF for their assistance," wrote Dr Ng.
In another Facebook post at around 4.30pm on Monday, Dr Ng updated that two Singapore vessels - the RSS Valour and RSS Supreme - had arrived at their designated search area to begin the search.
